REVIEW: ‘The Flash,’ Issue #797

The Flash #797 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, art by Serg Acuña and Scott Derenick, colors by Matt Herms and Pete Pantazis, and letters by Dave Sharpe. Kid Flash is asked to babysit as Wally and Linda go on a date night. But the kids are sucked out of time and space by an old enemy.

The first issue following the intensity of the One-Minute War, the plot of this issue has a breath of fresh air about it. That youthful exuberance is back as the time-travel adventures continue. The story is excellent, mixing the past, present, and future into one. Adams brilliantly knows how to suddenly launch into the adventure after a quick setup. It’s a story full of surprises as characters appear that can be taken from any point in time, so the unpredictability is as high as possible. The action and the fight scenes are terrific, often getting through a large set piece in a small number of pages. But they are still satisfying due to how the comic travels between these pieces. The final page is ominous, and it remains to be seen at one point the consequences will be seen, if any.

The characters of all the young heroes are brilliant. Not just Jai and Irey either, as Ace is utilized perfectly. He constantly plays catch up, needing to go after the kids and get them back before their parents find out. This is the first Flash comic in a long time that doesn’t feature either Barry or Wally, with no older Flashes. The villains are all amazing too. Some of them look brand new, clever creations from a possible future. One negative of the issue is that a third kid is included, one with superpowers. But at no point does the dialogue say her name or introduce her, making it difficult to know who she is, even if you have been reading the whole series so far. 

The art is fantastic, split down the middle of the issue. To start is Acuña. The most noticeable aspect of their art style is the large facial proportions, particularly the eyes. This makes it hugely expressive and descriptive, with a possible manga influence. A character can celebrate or sulk, and you can quickly tell. Some of the villains are superbly designed, the sheer size of one of them particularly impressive. Then the art shifts to Derenick, whose style is similar yet distinctive. The proportions are not too separate, with a focus on expressive eyes. This is where most of the fighting can be seen, with a magnificent sense of spontaneity and speed. The guessing game of what will appear matches tremendous page construction, meaning that anything looks great.

The colors are awesome. The weird and wonderful concepts in this time travel adventure are met with unique and joyful color palettes. The textures and tones blending are stunning, and the lettering is very easy to read.

The Flash #797 is brilliant, youthful fun. The kids have to save the day independently, with barely an adult to be seen. But every issue in this run, even if they sometimes seem like breathers after a heavy set of stories, has huge amounts of plot and planning for the future. Characters can make reappearances on a whim, and nothing is forgotten. Adams has expanded the universe of The Flash through all of space and time, meaning there is no limit to where they can run.

The Flash #797 is available now wherever comics are sold.